Manchester City sent out an emphatic message to their Champions League rivals with victory in Basel.

City cruised to a 4-0 victory in the first-leg of their last-16 clash, with Ilkay Gundogan bagging a brace.

The German headed home the opener inside the first 15 minutes, before the advantage was doubled by Bernardo Silva’s ambitious volley minutes later.

Sergio Aguero made it three with a low effort from outside of the area, before Gundogan sealed the deal with a sumptuous strike of his own after the break.

Here are five talking points from St Jakob-Park…

Gundogan heads home the opening goal (Image: CameraSport)

(Image: Bongarts)

Aguero made it three after just 25 minutes (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

1. Sane makes miraculous recovery

What a tremendous boost for Pep Guardiola and his City team to have Leroy Sane back so soon.

Sane was back on the bench for City just a matter of weeks after being on the end of a horror tackle in City’s FA Cup clash at Cardiff. Initial reports suggested he was going to be out for well over a month longer.

He came off the bench on the hour mark and while it was a quiet performance, he was seeing him moving so comfortably was perhaps the biggest win of the night for City.

Sane made his return for City ahead of schedule (Image: AFP)

2. Bernardo has grown into his role

It has taken Bernardo Silva a while to settle into life at City, but he’s now slowly recapturing the form which made him one of the most exciting signings of last summer.

Silva could barely get a start when he first moved from Monaco, but he’s now one of the key components to City’s front line.

He proved his worth with an exemplary volley for City’s second in the early stages of the game in Basel.

The way he keeps hold of the ball is almost as mesmeric to watch as a Kevin De Bruyne through ball. He’s just getting better and better.

Bernardo's volley doubled City's lead early on (Image: CameraSport)

3. Ederson doesn’t switch off

It’s not the most entertaining role on the pitch, being the goalkeeper for a team that does not give away the ball.

But Ederson never switches off, regardless of how dominant City are - and it is testament to how influential he is.

The Brazilian goalkeeper was quick off his line to mop up Basel’s early pressure in the game, before offering an extra outlet when the Swiss champions put on a high press and forced City back.

And he’s decent with his hands too, making a superb stretched save to deny the hosts early in the second half.

It must be comforting for Nicolas Otamendi, Vincent Kompany and co. to know you have his support behind you.

Ederson makes an important save for City (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

4. Gundogan could be City’s secret weapon

Ilkay Gundogan is no stranger to netting important goals for City. You just have to look back to the first-leg victory over Barcelona to be reminded of what he can do.

But with the recent performances of City’s other forward-thinking players, it’s easy to forget just how much Gundogan can add.

Playing something of a free role in the middle of the park, he regularly finds himself with space on the edge of the box - and he showed with his second goal how deadly he can be if you don’t track him.